The Oklahoman
From Oklahoma
The Oklahoman is the largest statewide newspaper in Oklahoma and is the only daily newspaper for the Oklahoma City Metro area. The successful ownership of the paper by the Gaylord family built a multi-billion dollar fortune. The editorial viewpoint has through the years been labelled as conservative, but the leadership of the paper contends it is non-partisan, and reflects the views of its readers.
Founded in 1889 in Oklahoma City by Sam Small, "The Daily Oklahoman" was taken over in 1903 by the Oklahoma Publishing Company, controlled by Edward K. Gaylord. Gaylord lived to the age of 101 and controlled the newspaper for an astonishing 71 years. Management of the newspaper passed to his son, Edward L. Gaylord, who managed the newspaper from 1974 to 2003. As of 2005 Christy Gaylord Everest, granddaughter of Edward Gaylord, is the publisher the newspaper, assisted by her sister Mary Gaylord Bennett. Ed Kelley is Editor.
Charles George Werner, a rookie political cartoonist at the newspaper, won the 1939 Pulitzer Prize for editorial art. The winning cartoon, "Nomination for 1938", depicted the Nobel Peace Prize resting on a grave marked "Grave of Czecho-Slovakia, 1919-1938". Published on October 6, 1938, the cartoon bit at the recently concluded Munich Agreement, which transferred the Sudetenland (a strategically important part of Czechoslovakia) to Nazi Germany.
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[edit] Criticism
The newspaper has instituted several notable changes since Columbia Journalism Review ran a critical article in 1999 titled "The Worst Newspaper in America", which blasted the paper for allegedly biased reporting, strident editorials, and other complaints.
The newspaper acknowledges that some editorials were perhaps as unabashedly partisan, supporting big-business and pro-Christian agendas (including the printing of daily prayers on the front page). New features at the paper include opposing views of opinions expressed in editorials.
Critics say that its monopoly over local news "has bred both a management and newsroom culture that ridicules critics and rewards mediocrity"<ref>Columbia Journalism Review. The Worst Newspaper in America, Jan/Feb 1999.</ref>.
[edit] Historical notes
Until early 1984, the Oklahoma Publishing Company also had an afternoon newspaper, the Oklahoma City Times. It was folded into the Oklahoman beginning with the March 1, 1984 issue.
[edit] Editorial Staff
- Ed Kelley, Editor
- Sue Hale, Executive Editor
- Mike Shannon, Managing Editor (News and Sports)
- Joe Hight, Managing Editor (Research, Development, Features)
- Robby Trammell, Asst. Managing Editor (News)
- Yvette Walker, Deputy Managing Editor
- Bill Waugh, Asst. Managing Editor (Visuals)
- Mark Hutchinson, City Editor
- Mac Bentley, State Editor
- Kathryn McNutt, Metro Editor
- Clytie Bunyan, Business Editor
- Mike Sherman, Sports Editor
- Sonya Colberg, Features Editor
- David Morris, NewsOK General Manager
[edit] External links
[edit] References
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